View source for Privet

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants in the family Oleaceae}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Automatic taxobox
|name = Privet
|image = Schurenbachhalde 11 ies.jpg
|image_caption = ''[[Ligustrum vulgare]]''
|display_parents = 2
|taxon = Ligustrum
|authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]
|subdivision_ranks = Species
|subdivision = See text
}}

[[File:Wilde liguster (Ligustrum vulgare).jpg|thumb|right|Wild privet, also sometimes known as common privet or European privet (''[[Ligustrum vulgare]]'')]]

A '''privet''' is a [[flowering plant]] in the [[genus]] '''''Ligustrum'''''. The genus contains about 50 [[species]] of erect, deciduous or evergreen shrubs or trees,{{R|POWO}} with a native distribution from Europe to tropical and subtropical Asia, and with one species each native to Australia and north Africa.<ref name="RFK">{{cite web |url=https://apps.lucidcentral.org/rainforest/text/entities/ligustrum_australianum.htm |title=Ligustrum australianum |author=F.A. Zich |author2=B.P.M Hyland |author3=T. Whiffen |author4=R.A. Kerrigan |website=[[Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants]], Edition 8 |year=2020 |publisher=[[Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation]] |access-date=6 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="APD">{{cite web |title=Ligustrum L. |url=https://africanplantdatabase.ch/en/search/Ligustrum%20L./fna/1/fsa/1/fta/1/bdm/1/page/1 |website=African Plant Database |publisher=Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques & South African National Biodiversity Institute |date=2022}}</ref> Some species have become widely naturalized or invasive where introduced. ''Privet'' was originally the name for the European semi-evergreen shrub ''[[Ligustrum vulgare]]'', and later also for the more reliably evergreen ''[[Ligustrum ovalifolium]]'' and its hybrid ''[[Ligustrum × ibolium]]'' used extensively for privacy hedging, though now the name is applied to all members of the genus.<ref>{{cite book |title=Craft of the Dyer: Colour from Plants and Lichens |last1=Casselman |first1=Karen Leigh |date=11 August 1993 |publisher=Courier Corporation |isbn=9780486276069 }}</ref> The generic name was applied by [[Pliny the Elder]] (23–79 AD) to ''L. vulgare''.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mE0z2MnIsloC |title=National Geographic Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine |first=Steven |last=Foster |author2=Rebecca Johnson |year=2008 |publisher=National Geographic Books |isbn=978-1-4262-0293-3 |page=116}}</ref> It is often suggested that the name ''privet'' is related to ''private'', but the Oxford English Dictionary states that there is no evidence to support this.<ref>{{Cite OED|privet|id=151621}}</ref>

==Description==
Privet is a group of shrubs and small trees of southern and eastern Asia, from the Himalayas extending into Australia. They may be evergreen or deciduous, and are tolerant of different soil types. They often have conspicuous heads of white flowers<ref name='Hilliers'>{{cite book|title=The Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs}}</ref> followed by black berries.

==Uses and cultivation==
In addition to being cultivated to create ornamental hedges and [[leaf|foliage]], privet is also widely used in horticulture and flower arrangements.<ref name="Urbatch">{{cite web |author=Urbatch, L. |title=Chinese Privet: Plant Guide. |publisher=USDA and NRCS |url=http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_lisi.pdf |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> The oval leaf privet ''[[Ligustrum ovalifolium]]'' is used for hedges, while its flexible twigs are sometimes used as cords for [[Lashing (ropework)|lashing]].<ref name="Urbatch" /> The tree species, especially [[Ligustrum lucidum|Chinese privet]] is frequently used as a street tree in Europe, while other species including ''[[Ligustrum japonicum]]'' and ''[[Ligustrum quihoui]]'' are among the others also sometimes used as [[ornamental plant]]s in gardens.<ref name="EGF">{{cite book|title=European Garden Flora |edition=2 |volume=4}}</ref>
Privet became very popular in Britain as a replacement for ornamental railings around properties, which had been lost to the 1941 Government compulsorily requisitioning of all post-1850 iron gates and railings for the war effort<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londongardenstrust.org/features/railings.htm|title=Railings|website=www.londongardenstrust.org}}</ref> the idea being that the donated metal would be melted down for use in the manufacture of armaments in WWII, although this ultimately did not happen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londongardenstrust.org/features/railings3.htm|title=So What Really Happened to our Railings?|website=www.londongardenstrust.org}}</ref> The remaining stubs of sawn-off railings can still be seen on many garden walls in the UK, often partly obscured by privet bushes.

Chinese privet is used in traditional herbal medicine.<ref name="Nature’s Medicine 2006">{{cite book |title=National Geographic Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine |isbn = 9781426202933|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mE0z2MnIsloC&q=privet+leaves+or+bark+is+helpful+for+treating+diarrhoea,+stomach+ulcers,+chronic+bowel+problems,+chapped+lips,+sore+mouths+and+throats,+and+a+wash+for+skin+problems.&pg=PA116 |access-date=15 March 2013|last1 = Foster|first1 = Steven|last2 = Johnson|first2 = Rebecca L.|year = 2008| publisher=National Geographic Books }}</ref> The decoction of privet leaves or bark helps to treat diarrhea, stomach ulcers, chronic bowel problems, chapped lips, sore mouths and throats, and a wash for skin problems.<ref name="Nature’s Medicine 2006" /> Privet leaves and bark have bitter properties that make a useful tea for improving appetite and digestion in chemotherapy patients.<ref name="Nature’s Medicine 2006" />  [[Kuding]] is a Chinese tea made from either a ''Ligustrum'' or ''Ilex'' species.

Some species produce a fruit, which is mildly toxic to humans.<ref name="Urbatch" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Plants for a Future |url=http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Ligustrum+japonicum}}</ref> Symptoms from eating privet fruit include nausea, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, low blood pressure, and low body temperature.<ref name="Urbatch" /> At least some privet species are known to be toxic to horses.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nine poisonous plants horses should avoid |url=https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/nine-poisonous-plants-horses-should-avoid|website=bluecross.org.uk}}</ref>

==Ecology==
A plant may produce thousands of fruits, most of which are eaten by birds.
Privet is used as a food plant by the larvae of some moth species including the [[common emerald]], [[common marbled carpet]], [[copper underwing]], [[engrailed (moth)|engrailed]], [[mottled beauty]], [[scalloped hazel]], [[small angle shades]], [[v-pug]], [[privet hawk moth]] and [[willow beauty]].

===Invasiveness===

{{Main|Privet as an invasive plant}}
Privet is a successful invasive species because of its ability to outcompete and therefore displace native vegetation, due to its adaptability. Various species are now a problem in North America, Australia and New Zealand.

==Species==
{{As of|2025|4}} [[Plants of the World Online]] lists 46 accepted species of ''Ligustrum''.<ref name="POWO">{{cite POWO |id=328108-2 |title=''Ligustrum'' L. |access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
{{Linked species list
 | Ligustrum angustum | B.M.Miao
 | Ligustrum australianum | F.Muell.
 | Ligustrum compactum | (Wall. ex G.Don) Hook.f. & Thomson ex Brandis
 | Ligustrum confusum | Decne.
 | Ligustrum cumingianum | Decne.
 | Ligustrum delavayanum | Har.
 | Ligustrum expansum | Rehder
 | Ligustrum fengjieense | Xian Y.Li & Si Y.Zeng
 | Ligustrum foliosum | Nakai
 | Ligustrum glomeratum | Blume
 | Ligustrum gracile | Rehder
 | Ligustrum guangdongense | R.J.Wang & H.Z.Wen
 | Ligustrum henryi | Hemsl.
 | Ligustrum ibota | Siebold
 | Ligustrum japonicum | Thunb.
 | Ligustrum leucanthum | (S.Moore) P.S.Green
 | Ligustrum lianum | P.S.Hsu
 | Ligustrum lindleyi | (Wall. ex G.Don) P.S.Green
 | Ligustrum liukiuense | Koidz.
 | Ligustrum lucidum | W.T.Aiton
 | Ligustrum micranthum | Zucc.
 | Ligustrum minii | Raizada
 | Ligustrum morrisonense | Kaneh. & Sasaki
 | Ligustrum myrsinites | Decne.
 | Ligustrum nepalense | Wall.
 | Ligustrum novoguineense | Lingelsh.
 | Ligustrum obovatilimbum | B.M.Miao
 | Ligustrum obtusifolium | Siebold & Zucc.
 | Ligustrum ovalifolium | Hassk.
 | Ligustrum parvifolium | Kiew
 | Ligustrum pricei | Hayata
 | Ligustrum punctifolium | M.C.Chang
 | Ligustrum quihoui | Carrière
 | Ligustrum retusum | Merr.
 | Ligustrum robustum | (Roxb.) Blume
 | Ligustrum salicinum | Nakai
 | Ligustrum sempervirens | (Franch.) Lingelsh.
 | Ligustrum sinense | Lour.
 | Ligustrum stenophyllum | Quisumb. & Merr.
 | Ligustrum strongylophyllum | Hemsl.
 | Ligustrum tamakii | Hatus.
 | Ligustrum tenuipes | M.C.Chang
 | Ligustrum tschonoskii | Decne.
 | Ligustrum undulatum | Blume
 | Ligustrum vulgare | L.
 | Ligustrum xingrenense | D.J.Liu
}}
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q753099}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ligustrum| ]]
[[Category:Garden plants]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]